Bahia Bienal Returns After 46-Year Hiatus, Confronting Legacy of Military Censorship

Running from 29 May to 7 September 2014, the third Bahia Bienal takes place in Salvador and nine additional cities in Bahia, Brazil, marking its first return in 46 years. The previous edition in 1968 was abruptly halted by the military government after just two days, with 19 artworks, including Lênio Braga's 'A Curra,' labeled as subversive. Organizers Juarez Paraíso and Riolan Coutinho faced arrest and torture. Chief curator Marcelo Rezende seeks to link this biennial with those from 1966 and 1968 while tackling contemporary issues. The event's ghost reflects the lost artistic and social opportunities prior to authoritarianism. Thirteen artists and one critic participated in a residency to explore Bahia's current state, despite the absence of a robust gallery network or collector community.